HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 06: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 6, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 06: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 06: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 6, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 06: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park

BOSTON — Gerrit Cole often talks of his baseball fandom, the sometimes forgotten side of a major league player who witnesses up close more than 160 games in a season.

They, like those who pack the stands or tune in on television, get jazzed for premier matchups like Saturday night afforded.

"You've got (Chris) Sale and (Justin) Verlander in Game 1 of the ALCS. You can take a minute to enjoy that and I guess not worry about business for a second."

"At least for the first pitch or so."

Afterward, Cole concedes he will diagnose Verlander's plan of attack against the booming Boston lineup he will face on Sunday night in Game 2.

"I'm just going to watch the game, just like you guys are," Cole told a group of reporters on Saturday. "You're going to have feelings. You're going to have instincts, as I'm sure it's what you guys, how you script your articles in the same way, how I'm going to try to craft my outing tomorrow. I'm going to try to feel how the series has gone in the first game and just try to take the temperature."

Cole struck out 12 in seven innings of one-run ball against the Indians in the American League Division Series, a day after Verlander punched out 10 in 5 ⅓ frames.

The two pitchers possess similar arsenals — fastballs which average 96 mph to complement plus sliders and curveballs. Watching how one attacks a lineup could, ostensibly, serve the other well for his start.

Examining the outing with Verlander himself? Cole can't do that.

"He's not going to be in the mood for a quiz, I can tell you that, regardless if he pitches well or not," Cole said with a grin, "I mean, who likes a pop quiz here, anybody?"